Nesting stacking grille

Abstract

In some embodiments, a nesting grille may include an alpha link having a top alpha link grommet, a beta link, and a plurality of cross members. In some embodiments, each of the plurality of cross members are coupled to at least one of the alpha link and the beta link. In one embodiment, the top alpha link grommet is configured to receive one of the plurality of cross members. In one embodiment, the grille is configured to be moveable between an extended state and a retracted state, the grille coiled about itself with the alpha link disposed inside of the beta link when the grille is in the retracted state.

We claim: 
     
       1. A compact nesting grille comprising:
 a plurality of alpha links, each alpha link of the plurality of alpha links having a first alpha link grommet, a second alpha link grommet, and an alpha link body coupling the first alpha link grommet to the second alpha link grommet, wherein the first alpha link grommet includes an opening having a first alpha link grommet center point, a major portion and a minor portion wherein the major portion has a radius which is greater than a radius of the minor portion, wherein the second alpha link grommet includes a second alpha link grommet center point and a second alpha link grommet opening, the second alpha link grommet opening having a second alpha link grommet major portion with a second alpha link grommet major portion center point and a second alpha link grommet minor portion with a second alpha link grommet minor portion center point, and a second alpha link grommet axis intersecting the second alpha link grommet major portion center point and second alpha link grommet minor portion center point, the second alpha link grommet major portion having a radius greater than the second alpha link grommet minor portion, wherein the first alpha link grommet major portion includes a first alpha link grommet major portion center point and the first alpha link grommet minor portion includes a first alpha link grommet minor portion center point, wherein the compact nesting grill further comprises a first alpha link grommet axis intersecting the first alpha link grommet major portion center point and the first alpha link grommet minor portion center point, and wherein each of the plurality of alpha links includes an alpha link axis extending through the first alpha link grommet center point of the first alpha link grommet of each one of the plurality of alpha links and the second alpha link grommet center point, wherein an angle between the alpha link axis and the first alpha link grommet axis is less than 5° and an angle between the alpha link axis and the second alpha link grommet axis is 40° to 60°; 
 a plurality of beta links, each beta link of the plurality of beta links having a first beta link grommet and a second beta link grommet; and 
 a cross member, coupled to the plurality of alpha links and coupled to the plurality of beta links, 
 wherein each alpha link body of the plurality of alpha links includes a first end coupled to the first alpha link grommet, a second end coupled to the second alpha link grommet, and an alpha link body midline extending along the alpha link body from the first end to the second end, the alpha link body midline being equidistant from an inner edge of the alpha link body and an outer edge of the alpha link body, 
 wherein the first alpha link grommet center point of the first alpha link grommet of each of the plurality of alpha links is spaced from the alpha link body midline and positioned on a first side of the alpha link body midline and the second alpha link grommet center point of the second alpha link grommet of each of the plurality of alpha links is spaced from the alpha link body midline and positioned on a second side of the alpha link body midline opposite the first side, 
 wherein the first alpha link grommet of each of the plurality of alpha links and the second beta link grommet of each of the plurality of alpha links are coupled to the cross member in alpha link-beta link pairs wherein each alpha link-beta link pair is spaced apart along the cross member relative to adjacent alpha link-beta link pairs, and 
 wherein the compact nesting grille is configured to be moveable between an extended state and a retracted state, the compact nesting grille coiled about itself with the plurality of alpha links disposed inside of the plurality of beta links when the compact nesting grille is in the retracted state. 
 
     
     
       2. The compact nesting grille of  claim 1 , wherein a ratio of an outer diameter of the first alpha link grommet of each one of the plurality of alpha links to a length of an alpha link body of each one of the plurality of alpha links is about 2.6 to about 2.9. 
     
     
       3. The compact nesting grille of  claim 2 , wherein the alpha link body of each one of the plurality of alpha links has a curved shape with an alpha link outside radius of curvature and an alpha link arc length and a beta link body of each beta link of the plurality of beta links has a curved shape with a beta link inner radius of curvature and a beta link arc length and wherein the first alpha link grommet of each one of the plurality of alpha links includes the first alpha link grommet outer diameter, and wherein the beta link arc length is greater than the alpha link arc length by approximately twice the first alpha link grommet outer diameter. 
     
     
       4. The compact nesting grille of  claim 3 , wherein the beta link inner radius of curvature is different from the alpha link outside radius of curvature. 
     
     
       5. The compact nesting grille of  claim 3 , wherein a ratio of the alpha link arc length to the beta link arc length is 0.4 to 0.8. 
     
     
       6. The compact nesting grille of  claim 1 , wherein the alpha link-beta link pairs are spaced apart from each other to expose the cross member between adjacent alpha link-beta link pairs. 
     
     
       7. The compact nesting grille of  claim 1 , wherein the first alpha link grommet and the second alpha link grommet of each one of the plurality of alpha links comprises a closed loop. 
     
     
       8. The compact nesting grille of  claim 1 , wherein the first alpha link grommet and the second alpha link grommet of each one of the plurality of alpha links have a substantially similar shape and are on opposing sides of the alpha link body. 
     
     
       9. The compact nesting grille of  claim 1 , wherein a distance of the center point of the first alpha link grommet of each one of the plurality of alpha links to the alpha link body midline is equal to a distance of the center point of the second alpha link grommet to the alpha link body midline. 
     
     
       10. The compact nesting grille of  claim 1 , wherein each beta link of the plurality of beta links includes a proximal end, a distal end, and a beta link body midline extending from the proximal end to the distal end;
 wherein the first beta link grommet of each beta link of the plurality of beta links comprises a center point positioned above the beta link body midline and the second beta link grommet comprises a center point positioned below the beta link body midline. 
 
     
     
       11. The compact nesting grille of  claim 10 , wherein the center point of the first alpha link grommet of each one of the plurality of alpha links is a distance above the alpha link body midline that is equal to a distance of the center point of the second beta link grommet below the beta link body midline. 
     
     
       12. The compact nesting grille of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of alpha links and the compact nesting grille are configured to be wound about a shaft when the compact nesting grille is in the retracted state such that the plurality of alpha links form a single substantially circular alpha link layer. 
     
     
       13. The compact nesting grille of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of beta links form a single, substantially circular single beta link layer when the compact nesting grille is in the retracted state. 
     
     
       14. The compact nesting grille of  claim 13 , wherein a quantity of links in the alpha link layer is equal to a quantity of links in the beta link layer. 
     
     
       15. The compact nesting grille of  claim 13 , wherein a first beta link of the plurality of beta links comprises a line through a midpoint of each of the first alpha link grommet and the first beta link grommet when the compact nesting grille is in the retracted state and is tangent to the shaft. 
     
     
       16. The compact nesting grille of  claim 12 , wherein the alpha link layer comprises 8 links. 
     
     
       17. The compact nesting grille of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of alpha links and the plurality of beta links are co-planar when the compact nesting grille is in the extended state. 
     
     
       18. The compact nesting grille of  claim 1 , wherein the compact nesting grille comprises a 14 foot tall grille and is configured to be stored in a 10.5 inch headroom. 
     
     
       19. The compact nesting grille of  claim 1 , wherein the compact nesting grille comprises a width of at least 26 feet and a height of at least 14 feet and is configured to be coiled about a 6 inch shaft and fit within a 10.5 inch headroom. 
     
     
       20. The compact nesting grille of  claim 1 , wherein an alpha link thickness is within 70% to 85% of a beta link thickness. 
     
     
       21. The compact nesting grille of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of alpha links is in a horizontal spaced apart row when the compact nesting grille is in the extended state and each alpha link of the plurality of alpha links is coupled to a same cross member. 
     
     
       22. The compact nesting grille of  claim 1 , wherein the compact nesting grille is configured to move from the extended state to the retracted state while producing a maximum sound of 60 decibels to 70 decibels. 
     
     
       23. The compact nesting grille of  claim 13  further comprising:
 a plurality of additional link layers, each additional link layer of the plurality of additional link layers comprising a plurality of additional links, each additional link of the plurality of additional links having an arcuate link body disposed between a first link grommet and a second link grommet wherein each additional link of the plurality of additional links is joined together and to a substantially circular outer link layer by a plurality of additional cross members to form a substantially circular nested layer configuration when the compact nesting grille is in the retracted state. 
 
     
     
       24. The compact nesting grille of  claim 23  wherein when the compact nesting grille is in the retracted position, the substantially circular beta link layer, the substantially circular alpha link layer, and the plurality of additional link layers are connected to form a continuous chain that circumscribes a central core to form a plurality of adjoining layers wherein at least one grommet in each layer of the plurality of adjoining layers is aligned with at least one grommet in an adjoining layer of the plurality of adjoining layers to form an arcuate line bisecting each grommet in the arcuate line. 
     
     
       25. The compact nesting grille of  claim 23  wherein when the compact nesting grille is in the retracted position, the substantially circular beta link layer, the substantially circular alpha link layer, and the plurality of additional link layers are connected to form a continuous chain of link layers that circumscribes a central core to form a plurality of adjoining layers wherein each link in each of the plurality of adjoining layers is in contact with no more than two links of a single adjoining layer of the plurality of adjoining layers. 
     
     
       26. The compact nesting grille of  claim 1 , wherein the opening of the first alpha link grommet of each one of the plurality of alpha links has a generally teardrop shape. 
     
     
       27. The compact nesting grille of  claim 1 , wherein the first alpha link grommet of each one of the plurality of alpha links is positioned above the alpha link body midline and the second alpha link grommet is positioned below the alpha link body midline when the alpha link body is oriented horizontally. 
     
     
       28. The compact nesting grille of  claim 3 , wherein the beta link arc length is greater than the alpha link arc length by 3% -8% of the first alpha link grommet outer diameter. 
     
     
       29. The compact nesting grille of  claim 1 , wherein each alpha link of the plurality of alpha links comprises a substantially uniform thickness measured along the cross member. 
     
     
       30. The compact nesting grille of  claim 29 , wherein the first alpha link grommet of each one of the plurality of alpha links, the second alpha link grommet of each one of the plurality of alpha links, and alpha link body comprise the substantially uniform thickness. 
     
     
       31. A compact nesting grille comprising:
 an alpha link having:
 an alpha link body including a first end, a second end, an inner edge, an outer edge, and an alpha link body midline extending along the alpha link body from the first end to the second end, the alpha link body midline being equidistant from the inner edge and the outer edge, 
 a first alpha link grommet coupled to the first end of the alpha link body, the first alpha link grommet having a first alpha link grommet center point and a first alpha link grommet opening, the first alpha link grommet opening having a first alpha link grommet major portion with a first alpha link grommet major portion center point and a first alpha link grommet minor portion with a first alpha link grommet minor portion center point, and a first alpha link grommet axis intersecting the first alpha link grommet major portion center point and first alpha link grommet minor portion center point, the first alpha link grommet major portion having a radius greater than the first alpha link grommet minor portion; and 
 a second alpha link grommet coupled to the second end of the alpha link body, the second alpha link grommet having a second alpha link grommet center point and a second alpha link grommet opening, the second alpha link grommet opening having a second alpha link grommet major portion with a second alpha link grommet major portion center point and a second alpha link grommet minor portion with a second alpha link grommet minor portion center point, and a second alpha link grommet axis intersecting the second alpha link grommet major portion center point and second alpha link grommet minor portion center point, the second alpha link grommet major portion having a radius greater than the second alpha link grommet minor portion; and 
 an alpha link axis extending through each of the first alpha link grommet center point and the second alpha link grommet center point, 
 
 wherein an angle between the alpha link axis and the first alpha link grommet axis is less than 5° and the angle between the alpha link axis and the second alpha link grommet axis is 40° to about 60° ; 
 a beta link; and 
 a plurality of cross members, each cross member of the plurality of cross members coupled to at least one of: the alpha link or the beta link, 
 wherein the compact nesting grille is configured to be moveable between an extended state and a retracted state, the compact nesting grille coiled about itself with the alpha link disposed inside of the beta link when the compact nesting grille is in the retracted state. 
 
     
     
       32. The compact nesting grill of  claim 31 , wherein each of the first alpha link grommet of each one of the plurality of alpha links and the second alpha link grommet of each one of the plurality of alpha links comprises a closed loop. 
     
     
       33. The compact nesting grille of  claim 31 , further comprising a plurality of alpha links and a plurality of beta links arranged in alpha link-beta link pairs coupled to one of the cross member of the plurality of cross members in a spaced apart configuration.